The indoor location area is exploding, and will soon reach a tipping point in adoption.

The above line has been the opening sentiment of Grizzly Analytics reports on Indoor Location since 2011, when our first report on indoor location was published. The logic has always been clear: The numbers of companies deploying their solutions in trials skyrocketed each year, and mobile app users are so dependent on outdoor location awareness in their mobile apps that the demand for indoor is clear.

Unfortunately, while the number of indoor location solutions reaching market has risen dramatically, the number of indoor location systems entering true commercial use, beyond trials or experiments, has not yet truly taken off.

Why hasn't indoor location taken off yet? Will it? When?

Grizzly Analytics believes that the answer is multifaceted but a resounding YES. Four challenges have been preventing indoor location technologies from crossing the chasm. And all four are now reaching tipping points, with solutions profiled in this report solving the challenges successfully. With these challenges solved, the industry can truly reach its huge potential.

First, many indoor location systems are achieving significantly better accuracy than was achieved 2-3 years ago.

Second, many solutions today are requiring less tedious setup and configuration than was previously required. This includes use of SLAM and crowdsourcing technologies.

Third, M&A and strategic partnerships has brought the innovations of start-up companies into the strength of major companies.

Fourth, a mature ecosystem has developed in which companies are specializing in vertical industries, and incorporating location technologies from other vendors.

These trends will, we believe, drive a rise in full commercial deployments by the end of 2017, and integration with mass-market apps in 2018.